Strobing: The HOT New Makeup Trend

After a couple of years of the contouring craze, strobing has arrived to take its place. What’s strobing? Well, if you think it sounds like something to do with lighting, you’re right! Strobing is the process of adding highlighter to the high planes of your face, as opposed to contouring, which requires several different products to create highlights and lowlights. Contouring gives a more sculpted look, whereas strobing imparts a dewy, youthful appearance to the face, kind of like you’re under a strobe light, get it?

Strobing is a lot easier than contouring, and dare I say, prettier? Follow these steps to get strobing, no disco ball required.

Start with a freshly cleansed and moisturized face. (Try an illuminating moisturizer to boost the highlight factor, like Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer.)

Then pick up a highlighting product like Benefit’s High Beam or NYX’s Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator.

Apply highlighter to the areas of your face that naturally catch light: your cheekbones, bridge of the nose or temples. You can even add it to your cupid’s blow for a heavenly pout.

My favorite thing about strobing, beside the gorgeous look it gives skin, is its ease. You can’t really get it wrong, since it doesn’t need a careful application. As long as you apply highlighter to the key areas, you’re golden. Literally.